Canucks GM Mike Gillis Addresses Media Following First Round Sweep

Mike Gillis, General Manager of the Vancouver Canucks, met with the media today at 12:00 PST to address the state of the team, and oh what a “state” we are in. After getting swept in the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and going down in round 1 for the second straight year in a row, Canucks fans were ready to hear something. Make that anything, other than what they had to endure last year.

Unfortunately all that was heard from the GM was much in reminiscent of last year, yes there were a few minor details that were changed. For example this year when asked about Roberto Luongo, and if he would be in a Cauncks’ jersey next year Gillis did not hesitate at all to say, “it’s unlikely”. Read into those words what you like but if Gillis is still here I believe Luongo will not be. This may mean the franchise will have to eat some of Luongo’s 12 year 64 million dollar contract. A contract that Luongo himself, and many fans agree “sucks”. But Luongo will agree with his many fans and supporters the right place for him is between the pipes, not on the bench.

“I still have a lot to give. If it’s here or elsewhere, that remains to be seen,” he said to the Vancouver media today after cleaning out his locker. “My main goal is to be a starter, I want to play. At the end of the day, that’s what I want.”

Gillis made it very clear that this is Cory Schneider’s team and not Luongo’s.

“If you take Cory as a No. 1 goaltender, he’s at the prime of his career; our defence is at their prime,” said Gillis. “We need to get younger.”

But how do you really take the word of a man who signs a goaltender to a 12 year deal?

This leaves many Canucks fans, much like the seats in Rodger’s Arena for game 2, empty. And while we are on the topic of the arena and empty seats, when the question was fielded to Gillis about season ticket prices going up 5%, Gillis simply replied, “We have new cost because of the lock-out that we need to cover.” Well Mr. Gillis when you have a team that can’t make it past round 1 of the cup playoffs, and tickets are priced at $100 + for a nose bleed seat, some fans would rather watch from home, and some will be giving up their tickets all together.

But it wasn’t all sadness and nay say from the GM today. He did mention change was coming in the fall for this team. He said he needs to talk to management staff, coaching staff, and players going forward. But it seems core fans can breath easy as Gillis went on to say, “I think we have a good group of core players. We just need to bring in younger guys that can play with them.”

Of course as many know this team is not a fast acting team. They are known for their patience on and off the ice. So long story short things will be made a lot clearer deep into the summer.

As for coach Alain Vigneault and his return to the team. Well Gillis had this to say.

“We’re going to do a thorough review of everything in the organization. Five years ago we re-set. It’s time to do it again.”